The arrest of a Belfast man by Israeli security forces in the West
Bank on suspicion that he was a bombmaker for the Real IRA looks like
a case of mistaken identity.

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An Irish newspaper said yesterday that the man was one of its
journalists and had nothing to do with the Real IRA. The newspaper,
LŠ, demanded that the journalist, Sean O´Muireagain, be released. He
is also known under the English name of John Morgan. His parents said
yesterday that he was on a cultural visit to arrange school
exchanges.

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The arrest, at a roadblock in the West Bank on Saturday, was believed
to have been made after a tip-off from the British security services.
It sparked fears that the Real IRA was passing on its skills in
making bombs and mortars to Palestinian militant groups.

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A senior Israeli government source said there was genuine concern
that they had the wrong man. He said: "It´s possible you´ve got some
innocent schmuck and he´s been made into an international terrorist."

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Ciaran O Pronntaigh, the editor of the Belfast-based LŠ newspaper,
said: "On July 8, we published a full-page account from Jenin by Sean
O Muireagain in our paper, a piece which was accompanied by his
photograph, proof that he was in the occupied territories openly. We
demand his immediate release."